Connecting rod assembly



Aug. 26, 1952 L. F. KNIGHT ETAL CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 10, 1949 3 Shebts-Sheet l fwerzt'ors ZORNE F Mlle/1T JAc/r Lfifvm/rr A 5 0, Atiys.

g- 1952 F. KNIGHT ETAL 2,603,103

CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mirztars lam/5f KAI/ear JAc/r L H. [um/Tr By: ZmZELM U 1 '0. Aitjl s.

A g- 6, 1952 L. F. KNIGHT EIAL 2,603,103

CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 10, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet}? Patented Aug. 26, 1952 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY V Lorne F. Knight and Jack L. H. Everitt, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignors to Massey-Harris Co. Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Continuation of application Serial No. 132,238, December 10, 1949. This application July 15,

1950, Serial No. 173,972.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in connecting rods for reciprocatin engines, and specifically to a connecting rod which may be mounted with other connecting rods on the same crank pin whereby reciprocating engine cylinders may be located within the same transverse plane.

This application forms a continuation of our United States application Serial Number 132,238, filed December 10, 1949.

The particular problem to be solved in providing a connecting rod arrangement according to the invention involves bearing stresses. In prior proposals providing connecting rods acting from the same crank pin undue attention has been awarded to that portion of the connecting rod bearing which is only required to be subjected to the inertia forces of the masses of the piston in withdrawing the latter from top dead centre during the intake, stroke. As a result, previous proposals have not provided a simple connecting rod of the class wherein a pair may be mounted on a common crank pin for operation in the same plane of a practical form which can be applied simply to the crank pin without disassembling either the crank shaft or crank pin. Y

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a connecting rod arrangement wherein a pluralityof such rods may be mounted upon a common crank pin for operation in the same plane and wherein each of the rods embodies only apartial bearing surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connecting rod arrangment as above wherein the rods arev held in mounted position upon the commoncrank pin by retaining means within which the bearing hub of each connecting rod is rotatable.

.Other objects of the invention will be appreciated by a study of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a crank shaft and connecting rod mechanism according to the invention as employed in an opposed cylinder engine.

Figure 2 is a'partial perspective view of connecting rods according to the invention with one component of one design of the retaining means removed.

In Canada December Figure 3 is a view of the bearing hubs of a according to the invention. The opposed cylinder engine is little known in use by reason of the expensive requirements of manufacture in prior devices recommended for connecting rod mountings and also the disadvantages attendant the necessity for dismantling the crank shaft-in order to mount the connecting rods thereon. According to this invention, the crank rod l9 mounted on suitable bearings as at H mounts on a single crank pin in the region [2 thereof a pair of connecting rods l3 and M, in the opposed cylinder style of engine shown, so that these connecting rods have the same line of action within a, com-' mon plane transverse of the axis of the crank shaft. 2

Referring also to Figure 2, it will be that the connecting rods vl3 and I4 have their crank pin bearing hubs I5 and [6 respectivelyformed to extend arcuately to present a, bearing surface of limited area to the crank pin. Eachbearing hub has an outer surface as at Hand [8 in communication by suitable oil ducts l9 and 20 with the inner bearing liners 2| and 22, the duct passing through the linersinto communication with the bearin surfaces of these bearings,

The surfaces I! and I8, hereinafter referred to as retaining surfaces, are movable within suitable retaining meanssuch as the retaining or clamping components 23 and '24. One of the connecting rods such as the. connecting rod '14 preferably embodies a retaining stud 25'which extends to engage in recesses 26 and 21 in the components 23 and 24. Each ofvthe latter is cut away as at 28 to allow passage of the arm portion'29 of the rod I4, but the stud 25 serves to limit movement of the .rod, l4 within the retaining means 23 and 24 when the latter areclamped tot ther about the hub portion of the rod.

observed The other rod I3 is slidable within the retaining means rotatably with respect to the rod 29 by reason of the larger cut away portions 35 a1- lowing more movement. The retaining means such as components 23 and 24 may be fastened together to mount the bearing hubs of the rods on the connecting pin by suitable socket head screws 3| as illustrated in Figure 1.

It will be appreciated that due to the relative radial movement of one connecting rod with respect to the other, clearance must be provided in the terminal ends of these hubs as set forth in detail hereinafter.

In Figures 3 and 4 an alternative in respect to the specific form of the retaining means is shown. In this case, the connecting rods !3 and I 4 are held within retaining means in the form of a pair of simple semi-circular clamping components 32 and 33. Each of the components such as the component 32 shown in section in Figure 5, has suitable recesses 34 therein to accommodate retaining rings 35 of known form.

Each of the portions 36 of the complete ring 35 illustrated in Figure 3 is stamped from springlike material and has a cut away clearance portion as at 31. The terminal ends 38 and 39 of each component are formed in opposite manner having a locking portion 40. The inner arcuate surface 4| of the component is formed to a predetermined diameter to which the inner surface 42 of each recess 34 is machined with small tolerance. In its natural form each component is fashioned so that it must be spread for the inner surface diameter to be true and by reason of the spring-like nature of the material, and taking into account the reduced body portion 43, the component grips into the recess tenaciously when engaged with the cooperating component to provide an effective locked retaining ring.

If desired, a bearing surface may be provided between the outer surfaces of the bearing hub portions of the rods and the inner surfaces of the retaining means. However, where ducts are provided in the bearing hubs to supply oil to these surfaces, special precautions normally will not be required in regard to supplying suitable bearing metal in these inner faces by reason of the limited movement and the limited stress conditions so long as reasonable lubrication is provided on these surfaces. Considerations in this respect will be determined by the operating conditions and the metals employed in the manufacture of the components.

The limitation of the application of the invention to more than the number of cylinders mentioned herein in a single planar arrangement will be dictated by bearing load requirements.

In essence the connecting rod of the invention comprises a crank pin end having a theoretical arcuate bearin extent equal to one-half of the minimum included angles which the connecting rod makes with adjacent connecting rods. Thus, referring to Figure 5, a connecting rod arrangement of the invention is shown wherein a common crank pin 44 mounts a plurality of rods 45, 46 and 41 acting upon the pistons 48, 49 and 50. The crank pin 44 moves on the circular path of radius R as determined by the proportions of the crank shaft. The pistons move along the cylinder axis lines 52, 53 and 54.

In order to determine the total value of arcuate bearing extent for each connecting rod hub it is necessary to find the bearing hub extent on either side of each rod toward the adjacent connecting rod. In Figure 5, in determining the total value 4 of arcuate bearing surface extent for the connecting rod 46 the minimum values of the adjacent included angles which this connecting rod makes with the connecting rods 45 and 41 are relevant. Thu

E45: A min.+ B min. (1)

Similarly E45= /2B min.+ min. (2)

and

E47: 6 min.+ A min. (3)

If desired these values may be found by plotting substantially as indicated in the diagrammatic illustration of Figure 5. However, it is preferred that the values be determined by calculation according to the following procedure.

In determining the formulation, the included angles between the cylinder axis lines are taken into account. Thus,

D Q 2 %A m1n.- -s1n 1 sin 2 (4) where R is the crank radius and l is the length of the connecting rod between its centres of action. Similarly,

Substitution of these values in Formulas 1, 2 and 3 give the required values of bearing extent for each connecting rod.

In the case of only two pistons which are opposed in an opposed cylinder engine, the formula for each bearing hub reduces to E=2 sin- In actual practice the value of E is considered the theoretical maximum allowable. Accordingly, this dimension is reduced for necessary working clearances.

In general, therefore, it will be observed that the bearin extent E of a connecting rod hub according to the invention has a maximum value which is a function of the included angles on either side thereof of adjacent cylinders. In all cases the bearing extent will be less than 180 by an amount termed herein a free clearance dimension wherein said free clearance dimension is a function of the said included angles of adjacent cylinders and including machine clear-- ance dimensions.

Many departures in the specific form of construction will be evident to skilled persons apart from those disclosed specifically herein to illustrate the invention. It is therefore intended that this disclosure should not be construed in any limiting sense aside from that indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What We claim as our invention is:

l. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, each having an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hub of an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the connecting rods each with respect to the other,- a sep-- arable member formed of partsflextending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the connecting rodsand having bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the connecting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed insaid encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of-said (connecting rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, and means for retaining the parts of the separable member in assembly about said bearing hubs.

2. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, each having an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hub of an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the connecting rods each with respect to the other, a separable member formed of parts extending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the connecting rods and having bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the connecting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed in said encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of said connect ing rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, means for retaining the parts of the separable member in assembly about said bearing hubs, a pair of bearing liners constituting the inner bearing surfaces of said bearing hub, and means supporting said bearing liners in spaced apart relation within said bearing hub.

3. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, each having an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hub of an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the connecting rods each with respect to the other, a separable member formed of parts extending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the con- :necting rods and having bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the con necting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed in said encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of said connecting rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, and bolt means extending between said parts of the separable member for retaining the same in assembly about saidbearing hubs.

4. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, eachhaving an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hubof an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the .con-

necting rods each with respect to the other,- a separable member formed of parts extending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the connecting rods and having-bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the connecting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed in said encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of said connecting rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, bolt means extending between said parts of the separable member for retaining the same in assembly about said bearing hubs, a pair of hearing liners constituting the inner bearing surfaces of said bearing hub, and means supporting said bearing liners in spaced apart relation within said bearing hub.

5. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, each having an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hub of an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the connecting rods each with respect to the other, a separable member formed of parts extending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the connecting rods and having bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the connecting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed in said encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of said connecting rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, and tensionable locking rings extending about said separable member for retaining the parts thereof in assembly about said bearing hubs.

6. A connecting rod assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of connecting rods of identical form and length, each having an arm terminating at the crank pin end in a bearing hub projecting outwardly on either side of the arm to present outer bearing surfaces, inner bearing surfaces formed on said bearing hub of an arcuate extent providing clearance allowing for predetermined radial movement of the connecting rods each with respect to the other, a separable member formed of parts extending over and encircling the bearing hubs of the connecting rods and having bearing surfaces engaging the outer bearing surfaces of the projecting portions of the bearing hubs to confine the connecting rods to a common axis of pivotal movement, openings in said encircling member for free passage of the arms of the connecting rods therethrough, a socket formed in said encircling member at the junction of two of said parts, a stud mountable in one of said connecting rods engageable with said socket to cause the encircling member to move with the connecting rod, tensionable locking rings extending about said separable member for retaining the parts 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof in assembly about said bearing hubs, a Number Name Date pair of bearing liners constituting the inner 315 643 Lynn et al 14 1885 bearing surfaces of said bearing hub; and means 736458 sturtevant' 1903 supporting said bearing liners in spaced apart 5 1 783698 Brownbackn" 1930 r ation aid bearing hub. Miner Oct. 9: LORNE KNIGHT' 2,188,118 Portmann Jan. 23, 1940 JACK L. H. EVERI'IT.

FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED 10 Number Country Date The following references are of record in the 156,895 Great Britain Jan. 13, 1?21 file of this patent: 

